TRAI Advocates Risk-Based AI Governance for Telecom Sector

• TRAI Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti proposes a risk-based approach for AI regulation in telecom, with stricter oversight for high-risk applications and self-regulation for lower-risk ones.
• TRAI's July 2023 recommendations already introduced a risk-based framework for AI and big data in telecom, focusing on enhanced obligations for high-impact use cases.
• April 2024 recommendations promote regulatory sandboxes for testing emerging technologies like AI-enabled network automation and 5G/6G use cases under safeguards.
• Lahoti highlights concerns about transparency, accountability, and human oversight as AI increasingly influences millions of telecom users, emphasizing public trust.
• AI is crucial for managing complex telecom networks, especially with 5G rollout, IoT expansion, and 6G development, moving beyond just an efficiency tool to a foundational capability.

Why It Matters: TRAI champions a risk-based AI governance model for telecom, balancing innovation with public protection and trust.